“In a time where the benefits of collagen are exploding in the marketplace, we are excited to offer a more bioavailable form with science-backed absorption benefits without impacting taste,” said Chris Flynn-Rozanski, co-founder at Ingredient Optimized. “Our ioCollagen is at the forefront of innovation, and we are looking forward to grow alongside new products in the market.”
Plasma-blasted for bioavailability
Developed by Flynn-Rozanski and co-founder Steve Motosko as a platform to innovate across food ingredients, the io technology debuted in 2018 with the launch of Performix ioWhey Protein. The ioPea vegan protein followed in 2020, optimized to deliver comparable plasma levels of essential amino acids as dairy or animal-based whey.
“ioCollagen is powered by Ingredient Optimized technology, the same technology already powering ioWhey and ioPea used by our multiple existing brand partners,” Motosko said.“[The] proteins are research-backed to be three-to-five times more bioavailable and absorbed better than unaltered proteins.”
Motosko explained that the biotech “enhances the ingredient structure to allow the body’s natural digestive enzymes to work more effectively, optimize their performance and use more protein.”
It acts by bombarding ingredients with atmospheric plasma at ambient temperature, inducing functional and structural changes to increase surface area for better absorbability and facilitate enzyme processing for better digestion. By sidestepping the enzymatic hydrolysis process, taste is improved compared to standard protein isolates, which tend to have bitter notes.
The company’s portfolio, which also includes ioBCAA and ioLeucine, is supported by ten human clinical trials across whey and pea proteins, branched chain amino acids and leucine.
Licensing the technology
To “grow alongside new products in the market”, Ingredient Optimized’s strategy is to license its technology to manufacturers – among them Nutrabound Labs, which will offer brands custom development using the ioProtein line.
“ioProteins are leading the way in sports nutrition product applications for their superior absorption and performance benefits,” said Markus Trillsch, founder at Nutrabound Labs. “Our FDA registered cGMP manufacturing facility offers custom development using Ingredient Optimized’s line of ioProteins, and we look forward to partnering with Ingredient Optimized to grow the brands.”
Destined largely for applications in the sports nutrition and beauty categories, ioCollagen has already made early appearances in Glaxon’s Wonder Collagen and Genepro’s Collagen Protein in support of hair, skin, nails, joint and gut health.
“The future of Ingredient Optimized is to continue expanding the use cases for this technology not just by developing new ingredients but also through additional brand partnerships so we can reach a larger consumer base,” Motosko added.
